Italy Seizes Russian Billionaire Melnichenko’s Sailing Yacht A

Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko’s superyacht Sailing Yacht A is nothing if not distinctive. It is one of the largest sail-assisted vessels afloat, with a singularly terrible name, and is arguably the ugliest large yacht in service. It is also the most recent superyacht to be seized as part of international sanctions resulting from Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Reuters reports that Italian police have seized the superyacht, valued at $580 million, the prime minister’s office said on Saturday, a few days after Melnichenko was placed on an EU sanctions list following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sailing Yacht A has been sequestered at the northern port of Trieste, the government said.

At 12,700 tonnes, it is the largest sailing yacht in the world by gross tonnage. At 470 feet, she is the longest sailing yacht in existence. Its 300-foot tall carbon fiber masts are the largest composite freestanding structures in the world. Her 40,330 sq ft three-masted schooner rig is 8,000 sq ft larger than the rig on the tea clipper Cutty Sark. And the yacht — a slab-sided, eight decked, angular monstrosity — does qualify as perhaps the ugliest sailing vessel in the world.

Since last week Italian police have seized villas and yachts worth more than 700 million euros ($763.63 million) from high-profile Russians who have been placed on the EU sanctions list, Economy Minister Daniele Franco said on Saturday.

Comments

Italy Seizes Russian Billionaire Melnichenko’s Sailing Yacht A — 6 Comments

  1. A consultation question came across my desk today on the status of Officers aboard these sanctioned superyachts. They are in most cases manned by international crews whom, it is reported are departing ports and making passages. While they are no doubt following the instructions of their Management Company and/or Owner at least some of these passages have been made with AIS switched off.

    Due to their size this is illegal under Maritime Law and therefore the Captains and Watchofficers are liable to have action taken against their Certificates of Competency regardless of the instructions given them.

    Good Watch.

  2. I am wondering how this will pan out, will the vessel owners have to pay for the upkeep and moorings of arrested craft (if not whom), or will they abandon them?